December 8, 2014
James Beck PhD, MD, and co-author of The Case Against Fluoride (Chelsea-Green, 2010), has been in the forefront of helping communities oppose fluoridation throughout Canada. He was highly involved in successfully ending fluoridation in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta. One account of that victory noted:
… It’s as though someone turned on the tap and common sense and courage started to flow at City Hall. On Tuesday, Calgary’s city council voted overwhelmingly in favour of no longer adding the industrial waste product of fluoride to our water supply. After just two and a half hours of debate, a vote was held and 10 aldermen voted to do the right thing and stop mass-medicating 1.1 million citizens…
by Licia Corbella, Calgary Herald, February 9, 2011.
In solidarty,
Ellen Connett
Managing Director
Fluoride Action Network
______________________________
Opposing fluoridation in Canada in 2014
By James Beck, MD, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2014 has been an active year in Canada in the effort to end fluoridation of public water supplies. In the provinces of Canada the decision to start or stop fluoridation is a decision of the local government, generally a town or city council. Plebiscites are not binding on councils. As yet there is no legal mandate at the provincial or federal level. This year we have seen several council decisions and plebiscite votes against fluoridation and one plebiscite vote for it by a very narrow margin.
In addition there are promising efforts and public stirrings in opposition to fluoridation in several of our ten provinces. In the province of Ontario (our most populous) a legal action has been launched to force the Regional Council of Peel to stop fluoridation. It is a particularly interesting and pertinent challenge because it is based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The argument is in the legal context of our ethical argument against fluoridation. The result will affect all jurisdictions in Canada.
With respect to what we face in opposing fluoridation, I can add a recent event preceding a plebiscite in a small city in the Province of British Columbia. I faced the president-elect of the Canadian Dental Association in a public meeting. This practicing dentist argued with the usual safe-and-effective mantra. But the depth of ignorance—unless he was lying—was appalling. He even offered a fairy tale about the level of fluoridation in Europe and insisted that fluoride is a nutrient. This is not new, of course, but it is worthwhile to remind ourselves of what we face, as difficult as it is to believe.
Our task is to be calm and responsible and civil in our arguments and communications. And here is where FAN helps us. Our ammunition is truth, credible research, and reason. FAN is an extremely valuable and rich source of information and useful news and more personal support. From here in Canada I can tell you that FAN is global in its relevance and in its actions.
Note from FAN: Canadian Communities rejecting fluoridation in 2014:Huntsville, Ontario, January (population 19,100)
Lake of Bays, Ontario, January (population 3,500)
St John, New Brunswick, March 10 (population 76,550
Richmond, Québec, October 19 (population 3,300)
Prince George, British Columbia, November 15 (population 71,970)
Sparwood, British Columbia, November 15 (population 3,500)
La Prairie, Québec, December 2 (population 20,000)
For more information go to Canadians Opposed to Fluoridation
Fluoride Action Network Fundraising Update
We have received 91 donations for a total of $9,814. Beginning today, all donations will be doubled up to $2,500, due to a generous challenge from a FAN member.
We ask for your support to help us reach $150,000 from 1,000 donors for our 2015 operating budget.
We need each other to fight this battle, and by working together we can win!
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